So am I supposed to get the answers from watching some of your videos? It seems that that "first set" video had some good stuff, despite the "me sucking edited out".

I mean, just looking at your level of play I can tell that you have a wide variety of shots.

Click to expand...

I think what Jolly is saying is for you to think for yourself and examine more than you can regurgitate half-knowledge and cliche coaching "tips". Jolly has variety and can scramble around the court... his strokes look like awkward, but that doesn't matter, what he does, he does well... and thats why he probably wins a lot of matches... right? That, and he probably doesn't play a lot of guys who can beat him, right?

Matt, in 5 minutes of hitting or watching an opponent, you should be able to ascertain and vet your strengths to their weakness. If you can do this and you know how to construct both offensive and defensive points, you know the game of tennis.

I think what Jolly is saying is for you to think for yourself and examine more than you can regurgitate half-knowledge and cliche coaching "tips". Jolly has variety and can scramble around the court... his strokes look like awkward, but that doesn't matter, what he does, he does well... and thats why he probably wins a lot of matches... right? That, and he probably doesn't play a lot of guys who can beat him, right?

Matt, in 5 minutes of hitting or watching an opponent, you should be able to ascertain and vet your strengths to their weakness. If you can do this and you know how to construct both offensive and defensive points, you know the game of tennis.

Click to expand...

I would like to think that I am one of the better players around.

Put up very bad results in the a couple of tournies I played in the beginning of last year, no excuses but I had some stuff going on and it didn't take a rocket scientist to tell that I was wasting money by playing tournies while dealing with it.

Used to be that I had even odds of splitting sets with a DI kid, or some old man at the park. Getting less streaky as I continue to get better.

I would say I set up my practice matches so that I win 2/3 of them. 1/3 I blow guys out of the water, 1/3 I win by a competitive score, and 1/3 I lose.

A lot of times I would say I go as my serve goes, which makes it tougher for me in the indoor season since I am not serving every day. In the warmer outdoor season, when I am serving every day, I can light it up pretty good, and my consistency gets a nice shot in the arm.

Once in a while I have the odd day where it looks like I have never held a racquet before in my life, but they are few and far between now, unless I am sick, or didn't get enough sleep, I can usually put up a representitive effort.

That is the full scouting report edition, you need the abridged version for use when playing a match

J

Click to expand...

A structured way of evaluating an opponent is a great idea. But as you are ultimately trying to assess how to beat them in a match, not how good their strokes look, I think the focus should be on what type of shot you should be sending them on each wing rather than how well they hit the ball.

e.g.

1) what height of ball is the opponent most (un) / comfortable taking
2) what pace of ball do they (dis) / like
3) what type of spin causes them problems
4) how good is their movement forward backward
5) how good is their movement sideways
6) is there any pattern in their service toss which indicates the placement or type of spin that is likely

Particularly in most tournaments as you often only get 5 minutes to make an assessment. I'd be trying to give them all of this during a warm-up without making it so obvious it ruins the purpose of the warm-up.

Particularly in most tournaments as you often only get 5 minutes to make an assessment. I'd be trying to give them all of this during a warm-up without making it so obvious it ruins the purpose of the warm-up.

Click to expand...

I have found that the more I learn about the game, it is easier to see what people can and can't do as a function of their grips, and footwork. And if they do have a flaw, they most likely have found a way to compensate for it, and once you see that, you basically know where the next ball is going to be.

I find this extremely helpful on approach shots, both where and how to go with them, or perhaps knowing that the best plan is not to approach.

Sometimes when the site, or my connection is dodgy, and the video plays in fits and starts, you can set it to play, and do something else while it is going, then come back to the video after it is done playing, and the 2nd time you watch it will play smoothly and normally.

So if it acts strange, I will start it, then minimize the window, and come back later, and watch again.

Not that there is anything terribly appealing on there. I think I hit one wicked volley, and the rest of it looks like Lurch from 'The Addams Family' trying to play tennis.

I always limit myself to how good are his backhands and forehands. And then i'd like to play my own game.

And we'll see what happens!

Click to expand...

Yea, I mean, if I am serving well, and playing well, it usually doesn't much matter who is on the other side of the net.

But something like that system I like, because it gets you thinking. And I find that even on a surface where I struggle, or against an opponent who is a bad matchup for me, I can see that I still have several tools which can be effective.